Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

All-Star Paul Millsap takes his all-around game to the Denver Nuggets. (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press)

Now that the NBA regular season is well underway and the rosters are set, it is time for Salt City Hoops’ annual look at where former Utah Jazz players have landed. Here is a quick run-down on each player and what could possibly be expected of him during the 2017-18 season.

Gordon Hayward, Boston Celtics: What more can be said about his devastating injury? Just five minutes into his Boston career, the former Utah All-Star may have seen his season disappear. He has since had surgery, but the long road of hard work and physical therapy is just beginning. Here’s hoping the best for his recovery process. The trio of Hayward, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford would certainly pose a threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ supremacy in the Eastern Conference. Hayward’s horrific setback puts that in serious jeopardy.

Trevor Booker, Brooklyn Nets: Booker, always a Jazz fan favorite, continues to be a solid contributor on and off the court. He provides veteran leadership, rebounding prowess and gritty toughness to a Nets team that could surprise some. His energy is certainly contagious. With Jeremy Lin out of commission the season, Booker may be asked to help a bit more on the scoring front.

DeMarre Carroll, Brooklyn Nets: Ever since his stellar stint with the Atlanta Hawks, Carroll’s NBA journey has been marked by a production not equal to his rich contract, injury set backs and now a trade from Toronto to Brooklyn. The hope is a change of scenery will be a boost to Carroll, who is an upstanding locker room presence who still exhibits his trademark hustle on the floor.

Marvin Williams, Charlotte Hornets: Williams has settled into a nice role as a stretch four capable of some games of stellar perimeter shooting. While he may never live up to his high draft status, Williams has proven to be a capable and heady role player who can help any team. He does a lot of the little things. The Hornets will look to him to help fill some of the gap created by Nicolas Batum’s absence.

Kyle Korver, Cleveland Cavaliers: Korver was excellent for Cleveland in the regular season, but his postseason performance was marked by inconsistent shooting and less than favorable defensive matchups. Korver was still a smart re-signing for the Cavs, as his 3-point game may be vital given the less than accurate marksmanship of some of the team’s offseason backcourt additions.

Devin Harris, Dallas Mavericks: Harris is another player who has found a niche as a nice reserve guard for Dallas. While he does not wow many, he is a crafty scorer and playmaker who does not make too many mistakes. He may see a slight decrease in playing time, given some of the promising young guards the Mavs have brought aboard. Condolences to Harris, whose brother was tragically killed in a car accident this week.

Wes Matthews, Dallas Mavericks: Matthews’ time in Big D has not had the luster of his tenure in Portland, where he was stellar. He has battled back from some horrible injuries, but has not been able to get back where he was when Dallas inked him. His shooting, in particular, has been disappointing. Even so, Matthews is a solid defender and 3-point threat who is not afraid to let it fly.

Jeff Withey, Dallas Mavericks: A late offseason add, Withey managed to capture one of the final spots on the Mavs roster. In his two years with the Jazz, when called upon, the big man had his moments. Withey provides elite shot blocking to shore up the bench, when needed.

Richard Jefferson, Denver Nuggets: After the dust settled last week for Jefferson, the 37-year old forward finds himself in the Mile High City. He contributed toward Cleveland’s Finals and championship squad and will be looked upon as a mentor for the young Denver corps. The team wanted him badly enough to eat Jameer Nelson’s $4.7 million contract to bring him on. Jefferson is the latest in a somewhat bizarre glut of Nuggets forwards.

Trey Lyles, Denver Nuggets: After a promising rookie campaign, Lyles was a dismal disappointment his sophomore season for the Jazz. His shooting was errant and his defense non-existent. His decision-making was poor, as he seemed to force things whenever he was on the court. However, Lyles still has the skill set to be a rotation player in the NBA. With so many capable front court teammates, it will be interesting to see how Lyles performs in Denver. So far, it appears he is on the outside of the rotation.

Paul Millsap, Denver Nuggets: Millsap’s move was perhaps the least heralded, but most impactful summer moves. He is simply the epitome of consistency and brings his all-around game to a Denver team on the rise. His pairing with Nikola Jokic will be a fun storyline to follow. He will undoubtedly help make one of the NBA’s top offenses even better. Millsap will be quite good, but will probably not receive an All-Star nod in the West.

Al Jefferson, Indiana Pacers: The Indiana Pacers are a vastly different squad after an eventful offseason. They have some hungry young players who may help pick up the tempo. As a result, Jefferson remains a slightly curious fit for Indiana, but he can be solid in relief of potential All-Star center Myles Turner.

Ian Clark, New Orleans Pelicans: After being a bit player for the Jazz, Clark proved to be a very good energy guy for the champion Golden State Warriors. How much of that was due to the Warriors system and how much was his improvement? Probably a combination of both, but his new environs will help answer that question. The Pelicans certainly need a dose of outside shooting.

Enes Kanter, New York Knicks: While a very productive offensive player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kanter’s playing time actually dropped significantly since the Jazz moved him. That should change with his recent trade to the Big Apple. The Knicks will be one of the bottom dwellers in the NBA and someone will be needed to put points on the board. Enter Kanter. Expect him to put up some nice stat lines…and for the Knick to still lose a lot.

Shelvin Mack, Orlando Magic: Mack was perhaps unfairly maligned by some Jazz fans. While his judgement with the ball was sometimes questionable, he was a solid back-up who had his moments. And Utah got him for a song. He could play a solid role for the Orlando Magic, a team who seems to have little direction. This is evidenced by a bizarrely assembled roster.

Jack Cooley, Sacramento Kings: It is terrific that the hard-working, hustling Cooley is back on an NBA roster as one of Sacramento’s two-way players. He may get a chance here and there to contribute.

George Hill, Sacramento Kings: Hill had his best NBA season for Utah last year, but also missed 40% of his potential outings. That latter fact – coupled with his large paycheck for his age – had to be a factor in Utah opting for a new look with Ricky Rubio. Sacramento is still stuck in the mud. They have some intriguing youngsters, which makes their acquisitions of veterans Hill, Vince Carter and Zach Randolph perplexing, Hill should get ample offensive looks, while tutoring the Kings guards.

Kosta Koufos, Sacramento Kings: Koufos keeps plugging along. He probably plays more in Sacramento than he would in most places, but he remains a serviceable big man who can help clear the glass.

C.J. Miles, Toronto Raptors: Miles will be a welcome addition to the Raptors fold. He has grown into a very good 3-point shooter who can play multiple positions. Toronto will give him chances to show his game, perhaps more so than any of his previous teams. Believe it or not, even as he enters his 13th season, Miles is still just 30.

A number of other former Jazzmen were late preseason cuts: Jeremy Evans, Kris Humphries, Brandon Rush, Chris Johnson and Elijah Millsap. Trey Burke’s signed with and was waived by New York so that the Westchester Knicks could obtain his G-League rights, a further step from NBA relevance for the former Jazz guard. And last but not least, Deron Williams finds himself unemployed NBA-wise. He was solid for Dallas, but was lackluster with the Cavs. His Finals performance did not do him any favors

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

It is always nice to check in on former Utah Jazzmen. Many of them have been headliners this offseason, with several earning very handsome pay days. In fact, the trio of Paul Millsap, DeMarre Carroll and Wesley Matthews combined to sign for $189 million this summer. Not too shabby.

Without further ado, here is a quick rundown some former Jazz players and where they will be employed for the 2015-2016 season.

THOSE WHO CHANGED LOCALES

Mo Williams, Cleveland Cavs: After a mid-season trade that drew little attention, Williams enjoyed a resurgence with the Charlotte Hornets. While he did not shoot too well, he provided some much-needed offense for Charlotte. Williams tallied 17.2 PPG, 6.0 APG and 2.8 RPG, which was certainly not expected. He will assume a scoring role off Cleveland’s bench, with the ability to both spell and play with Kyrie Irving. Williams constitutes the main addition to a NBA Finals team.

Richard Jefferson, Cleveland Cavs: At age 34, Jefferson keeps on playing. For the second consecutive campaign, he managed to best 40 percent from downtown. He will be looked to play some backup wing minutes for the Cavs, perhaps assuming some of the PT Mike Miller enjoyed. Jefferson still unleashes the occasional burst of athleticism.

Deron Williams, Dallas Mavericks: Few players needed a change of scenery more than the former Jazz All-Star. The last two seasons have been largely forgettable, with Williams posting some of the lowest numbers of his career. Moreover, he drew the ire of fans and was maligned by former teammates. Things simply have not panned out since Williams was shipped out of Utah, culminating with last month’s buyout. The Mavericks pursued him in the past, so this makes sense. Perhaps Williams, too, can enjoy an rejuvenation as he returns to the Western Conference.

Wesley Matthews, Dallas Mavericks: After a surprising season as an undrafted rookie for the Jazz, Matthews has evolved into a truly impactful player on both ends of the court. In Portland, he became one of the NBA’s best long distance shooters, while still demonstrating defensive prowess. He is coming of a torn Achilles tendon, which makes his max contract a bit surprising. Should he bounce back fully, his addition could be a big one as the Mavs look to life post-Dirk Nowitzki.

Ronnie Price, Phoenix Suns: The Energizer Bunny keeps on playing, inking his fifth straight one-year contract. Playing for the struggling Los Angeles Lakers last year, Price actually posted career-highs with 5.1 PPG, 3.8 APG and 1.6 SPG in 22.8 MPG. Not bad in one’s 10th season. Even so, he looks to be more of a locker room presence for Jeff Hornacek. Who could have guessed the Utah Valley University product would play over a decade in the NBA?

Kosta Koufos, Sacramento Kings: Koufos has quietly become one of the league’s best back-up centers. After a few seasons behind an All-Star in Marc Gasol, he will now join forces with another in DeMarcus Cousins. There may be a bit more of an opportunity in Sacramento, especially given the drastic roster changes. Whatever the case may be, Koufos will provide rebounding and size off the bench.

DeMarre Carroll, Toronto Raptors: When Carroll was in a Jazz uniform, he was a fan favorite due to his defense, hustle and attitude. Those qualities helped him excel with the Atlanta Hawks, where he took his game up several notches, particularly in their postseason run. After inking a four-year, $60 million contract with the Toronto Raptors, Carroll will once again assume a bigger role. With the Raptors retooling, Carroll will start alongside DeMar DeRozan on the wings and will be looked to display more his offensive game. Toronto’s season ended in disappointment. Carroll will be looked to help change the fortunes of the team to the north.

THOSE WHO RE-SIGNED

Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks: Now a two-time All-Star, he was compensated accordingly. Millsap is simply one of the NBA’s most consistently good players, something that does not come as a shocker to Jazz fans at all. His advanced stats still remain stellar. Atlanta’s front line will be bolstered by Tiago Splitter’s addition and the Hawks should once again, led by Millsap’s excellence, contend in the Eastern Conference.

Lou Amundson, New York Knicks: Amundson, who saw action in one solitary game for the Jazz, keeps trudging along. Like Price, the hard-working big man had the best season of his career, largely due to the litany of injuries New York suffered. While the Knicks have changed things up, it should be another long season in the Big Apple. Amundson should have his chances to contribute once again.

Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City Thunder: Jazz fans are very familiar with the Kanter situation. He prospered offensively, averaging 18.7 PPG and 11.0 RPG since the February trade. Conversely, his defensive deficiencies have never been more exposed. His gigantic contract has some national media members shaking their heads, but the Thunder were in a corner, having to re-sign him or risk not being able to replace him given their financial situation. It will be quite interesting to see how he fares with a healthy line-up of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. Kanter will most likely not see as many touches, but Ibaka may help compensate for his woeful defense.

THOSE WHO STAYED PUT

Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks: Due to an amazing season, Korver can now be called an NBA All-Star. In remarkable fashion, he too seems to get better with age. His shooting was one of the biggest keys behind Atlanta’s tremendous season and he will be looked to lead again this season. Korver’s game will probably allow him to play for many years to come.

Al Jefferson, Charlotte Hornets: After helping put Charlotte finally on the map in 2014, earning All-NBA honors along the way, Jefferson suffered through a frustrating season. His scoring was his lowest mark since 2007, while his shooting was the worst of his career. Injuries definitely were a factor. Maybe a return of his health and some newcomers to the lineup could help Jefferson have a better go of it this year.

Marvin Williams, Charlotte Hornets: The move to Charlotte simply did not work well for Williams. It never really felt like he fit in, and his on-court production was minimal. Given the additions to the Hornets front court and wings, Williams will most likely take a lesser role.

Devin Harris, Dallas Mavericks: Ironically, Harris will team up with the player the Jazz traded to obtain him. He has settled into a nice groove as the team’s third guard. Harris excels running the second unit and can start when needed.

Randy Foye, Denver Nuggets: Foye’s game took a major drop, as evidenced by his career-low numbers across the board. With the uncertainty in Denver, it may not bode well for Foye this season, as well.

Brandon Rush, Golden State Warriors: Rush did not add much to Golden State’s bench at all, but earned a ring nonetheless. He has never truly come back from his horrific injury of years ago, and this may be the end of the road for Rush in the NBA.

Steve Novak, Oklahoma City Thunder: Novak will continue to be a good citizen for the Thunder, while hit the timely 3-pointer every now and then. Oklahoma City still attempted to trade him this summer and that pursuit may continue this year.

Kris Humphries, Washington Wizards: It is hard to fathom the fact that Humphries is entering his 12th season. While he never became a star, he has settled into being a nice reserve who provides some scoring and rebounding. Humphries will look to continue contributing to a Washington team hoping to rise in the Eastern Conference.

TRAINING CAMP GUYS

Justin Holiday, Atlanta Hawks; Lester Hudson, Los Angeles Clippers: Just for kicks, there are a pair of former Jazz training camp alumni who are on NBA rosters. Holiday has a lot of similarities with Carroll, and could be poised to make a big jump for the Hawks.

COACHES

Tony Brown and Jay Humphries, Brooklyn Nets; Jarron Collins, Golden State Warriors; Greg Foster, Milwaukee Bucks; Sidney Lowe, Minnesota Timberwolves; Derek Fisher, New York Knicks (head coach); Jeff Hornacek, Phoenix Suns (head coach); Earl Watson, Phoenix Suns; Howard Eisley, Washington Wizards: Just for kicks, part two. There are a number for former Jazzmen who are on NBA benches. Fisher struggled at New York’s helm, but with that roster, it is certainly difficult to come to any conclusions for his long-term coaching success. After being the NBA’s darlings in 2014, the Suns had a tough year. Hornacek’s team was once again the ninth seed. With a somewhat complex roster, it might be tough once again for Phoenix to crack the top eight.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Several former Utah Jazz players have been making the news lately. From Carlos Boozer coming off the bench, Andrei Kirilenko finally being moved and Deron Williams now rumored to be on the trading block, it is interesting to see the paths these players have taken this season. It was just a few years ago that many of these players were part of a very entertaining, dangerous team that made it to the Western Conference Finals.

As we do from time to time, here’s a run-down of where the former Jazzmen are and how they are fairly a quarter of the way through this long season.

Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks: It is quite rare for a player to have his career year as a 33-year old in his 12th season, but that is exactly what Korver is doing. His shooting is off the charts good. Korver is shooting 51.8 percent from the floor, 54.6 percent from beyond the arc and 95.9 percent from the free throw line. Yes, that’s right – Korver has a higher chance of hitting a trey than a 2-point attempt. All this combines for a phenomenal True Shooting Percentage of .743. His 13.2 PPG is the second best of his career. He’s also chipping in a career-high 3.1 APG and 4.1 RPG. Korver’s 17.3 PER would also be his best mark. It is terrific to see Korver play so well in Atlanta. Could not happen to a classier player. He’s just getting better with age.

Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks: Mr. Consistency is having yet another great season. Most of his offensive number mirror last year’s All-Star marks, minus a precipitous drop in free throw percentage. Millsap is putting up 16.5 PPG and 7.8 RPG, along with 3.0 APG. That’s as Millsapian as you can get. The major highlight is his 2.21 SPG. He has led the league much of the season before falling just slightly behind Corey Brewer. Millsap has always had quick hands, but he’s definitely stepped it up this year. With the Hawks posting an excellent 17-7 record, Millsap might have a chance at a repeat All-Star nod. It is nice for the NBA world to notice how very good he is.

DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta Hawks: Carroll, too, is having a very similar season–11.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.6 APG and 1.3 SPG. He’s improved his 3-point shooting to 38.0 percent and remains a major defensive cog for the Hawks. His hustle is a big reason for Atlanta’s early success.

Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets: DWill is making a lot of news, given the recent rumors of Brooklyn’s potential desire to move the point guard. He’s quietly having a nice bounce-back year; it’s not nearly as good as his elite Utah seasons, but it’s nice to see his do more DWill things this year. He is posting 16.4 PPG and 6.9 APG, while shooting 39.2 percent from downtown. His 89.5 percent from the charity stripe is a career-best. His 32.9 AST% is a far cry from his many years in the mid-40s with the Jazz. Given his large salary and his injury history, will the Nets find a potential trade partner? Despite the rumors, that team won’t be Utah.

Al Jefferson, Charlotte Hornets: After surprising many last year and looking poised to be a force in the Eastern Conference, few could have predicted a 6-18 record for Charlotte. Few things seem to be working. On paper, the Hornets’ offseason looked strong, but the pieces have not fit together. Al Jefferson was the team’s heart and soul last year and while he’s having a fine season, his numbers are down all across the board. His 21.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG and 50.9 percent shooting have dropped to 18.8, 8.0 and 47.9 percent. With many teammates struggling, defenses are honing more in on Big Al and it is showing. He’s still as fine a center as there is in the East, and if they can start clicking, he will be given All-Star consideration.

Marvin Williams, Charlotte Hornets: Williams was one of those additions that was to bolster Charlotte’s depth and perimeter shooting. While he is hitting at a 37.3 percent clip, his overall game is really struggling. Williams is only producing 6.5 PPG and 3.1 RPG, with just a career-low 9.1 PER. His rebounding, which was a strength with Utah last year, is also the worst of his 10 seasons. There seems to be uncertainty about Charlotte’s rotations and the roles within then, including how Williams is being used.

Lou Amundson, Cleveland Cavaliers: Every year, someone picks him up. There’s something to be said about lasting this long. He is solely insurance, as evidenced by the 59 minutes he’s played this season.

Devin Harris, Dallas Mavericks: Harris continues to do well in his reserve role, bringing 9.1 PPG, 40 percent 3-point shooting and 3.8 APG to the table. He is a nice combo guard off the bench who still uses his speed to create mismatches. His 3.40 AST/TO ratio is excellent. In many ways, Harris has been the most consistent of the Mavericks’ platoon of veteran point guards.

Richard Jefferson, Dallas Mavericks: Many assumed Jefferson would assume the role vacated by Vince Carter, but that has not materialized entirely. He is still contributing 4.8 PPG and 2.5 RPG in 13.4 MPG and as he showed last season, still has gas in the tank when called upon.

Randy Foye, Denver Nuggets: After a resurgent season, injuries have derailed Foye in a major way. He has only appeared in 11 games, averaging 8.4 PPG and 2.0 APG. He is shooting a career-low 37.5 percent from the field. All that said, once he comes back, he offers head coach Brian Shaw some perimeter shooting and veteran know-how.

Brandon Rush, Golden State Warriors: It is hard to imagine, but Rush has been even worse in his return to Golden State than his nondescript year in Salt Lake City. Then again, Golden State is playing so well that it really does not matter right now. He is shooting a mere 19.0 percent, including 1 of 11 3-pointers. That devastating injury from a few seasons ago may keep Rush from ever recapturing his 2012 success.

C.J. Miles, Indiana Pacers: It has been a disappointing campaign for Miles thus far. In the absence of Paul George and a bevy of other Indiana frontliners, several players have been asked to step up. Miles is among that group, but is shooting a career-low 33.1 percent from the floor and after a pair of nice 3-point shooting years, is just 29.2 percent. For a team scoring just 93.9 PPG, the Pacers could really use Miles’ help.

Carlos Boozer, Los Angeles Lakers: At age 33, Boozer has begun to slow down a bit. He still can be productive–13.0 PPG and 7.4 RPG in 26.4 MPG–but is a far cry from the player he was just a few seasons ago. Head coach Byron Scott, citing Boozer’s defensive deficiencies as a reason, has moved Boozer to a reserve role, which may be more ideal at this juncture of his career. If he embraces that, Boozer could do fairly well for several more seasons.

Ronnie Price, Los Angeles Lakers: After playing the veteran mentor role in Orlando last campaign, many thought Price’s journeyman career had reached an end. Instead, he can be found starting alongside Kobe Bryant in LA. While the Lakers are 8-17, the fact that he’s contributing is nice to see. He is playing a career-high 20.8 MPG and is third on the team in assists. Price was never much of a marksman, as evidenced by his 29.1 percent shooting. But at 31 years old, he is still hustling and giving it his all out on the court. Good for him.

Kosta Koufos, Memphis Grizzlies: Koufos’ role has decreased a lot this year, as he’s averaging just 13.8 MPG. He per/36 minutes stats are among the lowest of his career. That said, he is an excellent player to have behind Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Koufos is still just 25 and may also generate a lot of interest from teams in need of a contributing big man.

Mo Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves: Williams is still humming along. With Ricky Rubio out, he has contributed 6.4 APG, his highest mark in four seasons. He’s also scoring 10.3 PPG for Minnesota. When Rubio returns, Williams will be able to settle in his better suited role as a spark-plug off the pine.

Andrei Kirilenko, Philadelphia 76ers: After persistent rumors that he was on the move, AK47 was finally shipped out in a salary-cutting move by Brooklyn. While it’s likely the tanking Sixers will waive Kirilenko, it remains to be seen if he will continue what has been a fine NBA career. Some reports have him hanging it up. If he decides to play, a number of contenders could come calling for the jack-of-all-trades. Whatever the case may be, here’s hoping the best with his family issues.

Wesley Matthews, Portland Trailblazers: Matthews is having another very good season for Portland. He is putting up career-highs in scoring (16.5 PPG), field goals (48.6 percent) and rebounding (3.6). Add in his sweet outside shooting (38.8 percent) and his regularly stout defense. All this bodes well for the soon-to-be free agent. At age 28 and just hitting the prime of his career, many teams will be clamoring for his services.

Kris Humphries, Washington Wizards: The former Utah first-round draft pick continues to be a nice bench player, currently in Washington (his third team in three seasons). He is tallying 7.9 PPG and 6.7 RPG and still manages to get in opponents’ heads a bit. Humphries is shockingly still just 29.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

It’s always interesting for fans to keep an eye on those who once donned the Utah Jazz uniform. After another busy offseason around the league, here is the full list of where former Jazzmen are playing, and some thoughts about their upcoming seasons.

DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta Hawks: Last season, the gritty forward enjoyed a career-year. After toiling for four teams in four seasons, Carroll may have found a home with the Hawks. He posted 11.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.8 APG and 1.5 SPG, complete with some great defense (2.6 DWS) and shooting (.575 TS%). Carroll still just had a 13.9 PER and is probably better suited playing just a touch less than the 32.1 MPG he played. He has been effusive in his praise of new Jazz coach Quin Snyder, citing his efforts as a big catalyst for his improvement.

Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks: The sharp-shooting forward had another solid season, putting up 12.0 PPG, 2.9 APG and 4.0 RPG for the Hawks. Korver’s stellar marksmanship (47.5 percent field goals, 47.2 percent on 3s and 92.6 percent from the line) paced the NBA with a .653 True Shooting Percentage. Add in a 5.9 WS, and you can see Korver’s importance for Atlanta. Look for him to do much of the same this year. While he fell short of making the USA FIBA team, Korver’s value has managed to increase as his career progresses.

Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks: When Al Horford went down with a season-ending injury, Paul Millsap stepped up in a major way. Sporting a nice 3-point touch, his 17.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.7 SPG and 1.1 BPG were enough to earn his first-ever All-Star appearance. Many of his advanced numbers mirrored his remarkable consistency during his Jazz days, so it was refreshing to see him earn that accolade at last. Even so, there still is a feeling that Millsap is underrated. He’s even been mentioned on some “Most Likely to be Traded” lists out there, perhaps due in part to his expiring $9.5 million contract. If Atlanta is smart, they will hold on to the do-it-all forward.

Andrei Kirilenko, Brooklyn Nets: Injuries plagued AK-47, but he still added value to a Brooklyn bench that struggled at times. Kirilenko has definitely lost some of the zip that made his one of the NBA’s most unique players for years. He averaged just 5.0 PPG last year, but showed he can still facilitate. At just $3.3 million, he is a solid guy for the Nets to have.

Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets: It certainly was a down year for Deron Williams. Across the board, his numbers were his worst since his first season. He’s dropped from 21.0 PPG to 18.9 to 14.3 the past three years (8.7 APG to 7.7 to 6.1). Given the additions of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Kirilenko, optimism was high that DWill would be the quarterback of a veteran-laden team that would compete with the Heat and Pacers. Instead, injuries really hurt his game. At just 29, Williams can bounce back. Given the Brooklyn market, and the fact that he’s in line to earn $63 million over the next three years, the pressure is on. By many accounts, new coach Lionel Hollins plans to funnel most of the offense through Williams.

Al Jefferson, Charlotte Bobcats: Like Millsap, it was wonderful to see Jefferson earn the praise that he’s deserved for many years. He was the key to the Bobcats’ resurgence, as he provided a bonafide scoring threat inside– 21.8 PPG and 10.8 RPG. Head coach Steve Clifford used him well on both ends, helping him be a big part of their defensive identity. Evidence: Big Al’s career-high 4.7 DWS. Strangely enough, he did not make the All-Star team, but garnered All-NBA Third Team honors. With an excellent offseason, Charlotte is poised to make another jump in the Eastern Conference with Jefferson as the focal point. While his three-year, $41 million contract opened some eyes, most view it as a bargain for his production and leadership.

Marvin Williams, Charlotte Bobcats: Always a terrific locker room presence and solid on-court performer, it was difficult to see Marvin Williams depart Salt Lake City. He did everything that was asked of him, even developing into a good stretch four for the Jazz. Williams inked a two-year, $14 million deal with Charlotte to reunite with Jefferson and return to his collegiate home. With his combination of stout defense, improved rebounding and outside shooting, he will add a lot to the Bobcats. He will compete for a starting position.

John Lucas III, Cleveland Cavaliers: Lucas struggled with Utah. With Trey Burke’s early injury, he was thrust into the ill-suited role of starter and he never really recovered from that poor start. Diante Garrett quickly usurped him in the Jazz’s pecking order. Whether or not he makes the Cleveland roster remains to be determined. It sounds like he will be given the chance, with only Kyrie Irving and Matthew Dellavedova being the only other point guards in the fold.

Erik Murphy, Cleveland Cavaliers: Murphy, too, is facing an uphill battle. The Cavs seemingly dealt for Lucas, Murphy and Malcolm Thomas to use as trade filler in any Kevin Love deal, then ended up holding on to all three of them. Along the way, Murphy’s contract was guaranteed.

Malcolm Thomas, Cleveland Cavaliers: By some accounts, Thomas seems like a player Cleveland is genuinely interested in keeping and using. With his blend of athleticism and length, he seems like a low-cost, potentially decent-reward guy to have at the end of the bench for the Cavs.

Devin Harris, Dallas Mavericks: Harris returned to his original NBA team and while injuries affected his season, he seemed to thrive in the third guard role for Dallas. Harris chipped in 7.9 PPG and 4.5 APG off the pine, with his 31.0 AST% being his best since his New Jersey days. He re-signed for a modest contract and will be a valuable cog for a Mavericks team that could surprise, thanks to a very good offseason that also saw Tyson Chandler, Chandler Parsons and Jameer Nelson join its ranks.

Richard Jefferson, Dallas Mavericks: Like Marvin Williams, Jefferson too put forth a resurgent effort. After languishing in Golden State, he started for Utah and showed that he still had some gas in the tank. With Vince Carter’s departure to Memphis, Jefferson could fill the role of a shooter off the bench. Signing him for the veteran’s minimum was another solid move for Dallas.

Randy Foye, Denver Nuggets: Foye had a nice lone season in Utah and did even better in his first with Denver. With other guards being hit with injuries, the Nuggets relied on him more than expected. With 13.2 PPG and 3.5 APG, Foye did his best to help Denver remain in the playoff picture for a good part of the season. With Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson coming back and Arron Afflalo’s return to the Mile High City, Foye may be back in a super sub role – one in which he does quite well.

Brandon Rush, Golden State Warriors: One year after being traded to Utah by the Warriors, Rush made his way back to the Bay Area. Given his lackluster play and poor body language in Utah, his heart was probably always in Golden State. If he can recapture some of his former self, he can be a solid perimeter addition to the Warriors bench.

C.J.Miles, Indiana Pacers: Despite playing nine NBA seasons, Miles is shockingly just 27. He had his best 3-point shooting seasons with the Cavaliers, which is the likely reason Indiana added him. He was to be a much-needed shooter for the Pacers, but with Paul George’s devastating injury, Miles may be asked to assume a bigger role – perhaps even starting. It will be interesting to see if Miles can seize this opportunity.

Carlos Boozer, Los Angeles Lakers: Carlos Boozer’s 2013-14 season was quite forgettable. His 13.7 PPG and 8.3 RPG were the lowest of his career since his rookie campaign. His 14.4 PER was by far the worst of his 12 seasons. The biggest stat for the Chicago Bulls was the $13.5 million he was set to make during the upcoming season. With the continued improvement of Taj Gibson and the additions of Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic, Boozer was an amnesty casualty.

Enter the Los Angeles Lakers. It is hard to determine what this franchise’s direction is. They added a slew of players to join the returning-from-injury Kobe Bryant, seemingly in hopes to provide enough firepower to compete in the Western Conference. Boozer will be looked on for some much-needed scoring. That said, with the glut of power forwards on the roster, it remains to be seen how much playing time the two-time All-Star will see. Especially when his age (32) and defense are taken into consideration.

Kosta Koufos, Memphis Grizzlies: After several underrated good years for Denver, Koufos brought some solid play to the Memphis front court. With 6.4 PPG and 5.2 RPG in 16.9 MPG, he provided depth behind Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. His shooting took a dip last season, but a 16.5 PER for your back-up is still very good; ditto the 3.5 WS and 18.4 TRB% (22.7 DRB%). He will continue to provide quality minutes and can step in to start, when needed.

Kyrylo Fesenko, Minnesota Timberwolves: Big Fes was a fan favorite during his four seasons. He had his moments and showed defensive potential. His immaturity, though, was an issue. After appearing in just three NBA the past three seasons, Fesenko is embarking on a comeback with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He impressed enough in summer league to earn a training camp invite. Given the rebuilding roster, the 7’1″, 288 lb gargantuan center might have a chance to stick.

Othyus Jeffers, Minnesota Timberwolves: The energetic Jeffers has made the rounds since finishing up the 2010 season with Utah. He hooked on with Minnesota right before the end of the last year and is still listed on its roster.

Mo Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves: After seeing success in a back-up role with the surprising Portland Trailblazers, Williams opted out of his contract and found the market wasn’t too kind. When things settled down, he inked a deal with Minnesota. It was a perplexing signing, with Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and, until they ship him out, J.J. Barea in tow. Given the dramatically changed roster, perhaps Mo will be looked on for veteran leadership.

Diante Garrett, Portland Trailblazers: After being a pleasant addition to the Jazz last year, he was unfortunately traded to Toronto in the Steve Novak transaction. After being waived by the Raptors, he signed a non-guaranteed contract with Portland in hopes of sticking. With his size and improved outside shooting, he would be a nice player to have on the bench, even with the guards the Blazers already have.

Wesley Matthews, Portland Trailblazers: After three solid seasons, Matthews made a little jump last season, enjoying his best year as a professional. His first half of the season was especially torrid, as he was shooting lights out. There was even talk of him making the Western Conference All-Star team. He finished the year averaging 16.4 PPG, while making 2.5 3s per outing. He leapt from 4.7 WS to 8.2 last year (going from 3.6 to 6.3 on OWS). Working with Damian Lillard, Matthews is part of a very potent back court that is among the best in the league.

Kris Humphries, Washington Wizards: While the Boston Celtics had a rebuilding year, Humphries had a quietly solid bounce-back season. He chipped in 8.4 PPG and 5.9 RPG in just 19.9 MPG, along with .552 TS% and 4.1 WS. Washington is a team on the rise and Humphries adds another capable back-up to their front court.

There are several others who are still out there without NBA contracts: Ronnie Brewer, Earl Watson, Ronnie Price, Eric Maynor, Andris Biedrins, Jamaal Tinsley, Mike Harris, Josh Howard, Lou Amundson. With the exception of Howard, all spent time on NBA rosters last season.

And just for fun, here are some former Jazzmen in the NBA’s coaching ranks:

Jarron Collins, Los Angeles Clippers: Collins will get his first chance as an NBA assistant coach. Always respected for his attitude and demeanor, it is nice to see him getting this opportunity with Doc Rivers and one of the league’s contending teams.

Howard Eisley, Los Angeles Clippers: Eisley continues in his role with the Clippers. He seems to be a valued part of the staff; no surprise, given his basketball knowledge.

Derek Fisher, New York Knicks: After 18 seasons and five championships, Derek Fisher was not unemployed for long. Phil Jackson plucked him up quickly, signing him to a five-year, $25 million pact. That’s a lot of scratch for someone who’s never coached at any level (though the same applies to Golden State’s deal with Steve Kerr). It will be very interesting to see what Fisher does in the Big Apple and the inherent scrutiny that exists therein. The Knicks roster does not do much to inspire.

Jacque Vaughn, Orlando Magic: Entering his third season in charge, the expectations are again low for Vaughn’s team to produce Ws. What they are looking for is continued player and talent development. That sounds familiar.

Jeff Hornacek, Phoenix Suns: Hornacek and his upstart Suns were among the NBA’s best stories last season. In his first year as head coach, Hornacek defied the most optimistic of expectations out there by producing an entertaining brand of basketball that got them within a breath of the postseason. Almost to a man, each Phoenix player had career-years–from established veterans like Goran Dragic and Channing Frye, to guys who were seemingly discarded in Miles Plumlee, P.J. Tucker and Gerald Green. The bar was set high. Can Hornacek build upon the momentum there in Phoenix? It would be tough to bet against him.

Tyrone Corbin, Sacramento Kings: Much has been said about Tyrone Corbin’s tenure as Utah’s head coach. There were ups and downs. Corbin gave his all and dedicated the past 12 years to the franchise. While he had struggles at the helm, he was largely considered one of the NBA’s best assistant coaches prior to replacing Jerry Sloan. Corbin should succeed in Sacramento as the lead assistant there, bringing professionalism to a talented Kings roster.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

At Jerry Sloan night, one of the exciting things for many fans was seeing many familiar faces – guys who once donned the Utah Jazz uniform. They helped bring back many fond memories. There are many former Jazz players playing for other teams, many of whom help us hearken to good times. Here’s a run-down of how they are doing. Some are thriving, some are struggling.

One of Jazz fans’ most beloved players, Millsap is getting his turn in the sun. When front court stalwart Al Horford went down with a season-ending injury, he rose to the occasion and has kept Atlanta in contention for home court advantage in the playoffs. Recently named an Eastern Conference All-Star, he is finally getting at least a portion of the recognition he has long-deserved. Millsap’s numbers are very close to his Utah ones–and the argument could be made that he should’ve earned those honors in the West. He certainly deserves this.

Millsap is posting career-highs in pts (17.5), assists (2.9) and steals (1.9). Always the analytics community’s darling, some of his advanced stats have actually decreased (career-lows with .542 TS%, .494 eFG% and 4.4 WS). His usage has increased to 25.3, which is a definite factor. The main difference has been his ability to hit the 3-pointer. He is shooting 35%, making nearly one per outing. He showed that ability on occasion in Utah (including the great Miracle in Miami game). He could become an All-Star regular out East.

In his 11th season, Korver is playing a career-high 34.3 MPG, but that extra PT is not affecting his sweet shooting stroke at all. His jump shot is improving with age and his contract is looking great for the Hawks. He leads the NBA with a .661 TS%, while also producing a stellar .638 eFG%. His 46.3% 3FG% would constitute the second best mark of his career. The rest of Korver’s game has always been a bit underrated. While he doesn’t wow the world, he has always been a willing defender, rebounder and passer. Korver is adding 4.3 RPG and 3.1 APG, while registering a 4.0 WS.

The last of the former Jazzmen in Atlanta, Carroll is having a banner year. Like Millsap and Korver, he is part of the Hawks starting line-up. He is tallying 10.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 1.5 SPG in 30.7 MPG. His per/36 minutes stats are actually right in line with what he did in 2012-2013. His hustle and defensive effort have been integral to Atlanta’s solid season.

Kris Humphries, Boston Celtics

Yes, he’s still playing. While his numbers will never be balanced compared to his contact, Humphries is scoring 7.8 PPG and 6.0 RPG in a bench role for a team that is Utah’s competition for ping pong balls. Hard to believe he is just 28 years old–seems like he’s been around for ages.

It has been a season to forget for DWill. Williams was to be the engine of a team boasting former All-Stars and strong depth. That has not quite materialized, although things are starting to pick-up. Thanks to seemingly endless injury issues, he has never scored (13.5 PPG) or assisted less (6.9 APG) since his rookie campaign. His WS is just 2.1. Williams is in the midst of a five-year, $98 million deal. While the Nets owner is beyond wealthy, the Nets brain trust has to hope he can regain his health and rejoin the ranks of the elite point guards.

AK-47 is still a utility guy…he just does things on a much smaller scale these days. He too has been plagued with injuries that have not allowed him to truly thrive. Essentially every one of Kirilenko’s statistics are career-lows. He still makes good things happen, as he’s been a cog in Brooklyn’s solid January. But it’s hard to see him playing many more seasons after this one.

Once again, Big Al was on the outside looking in when the All-Star reserves were named. Jefferson is posting a nightly double-double (19.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG) while providing the best post presence the Bobcats have ever enjoyed. He is scoring more than he has since 2009 and is working hard to help Charlotte get back to the postseason. And he still never turns the ball over (6.7 TOV%).

It seems like everywhere Boozer has gone, he has produced. But everywhere he’s gone, he’s also become a source of frustration for fan bases. He is still an offensive threat, but the 14.8 PPG and $15.3 million price tag do not quite jive. His scoring is the lowest since his sophomore season and he’s never shot more poorly (45.2%), although Derrick Rose’s absence is a big factor. Thus, the amnesty provision still hovers over his head.

Cleveland’s situation is messy. Simply put, the Cavaliers are among the league’s biggest disappointments. Despite the issues, Miles has seen a decrease in playing time–his 19.7 MPG is the lowest in six seasons. There are minutes to be had, but for whatever reason, he is not claiming them. In typical C.J. fashion, he still has flashes of greatness, as seen in his recent 10-trey evening.

Injuries kept Harris out for two months, but now that he’s back, he’s proven to be a great bench addition for the Mavericks. He’s played just eight games, but with 9.5 PPG and 3.5 APG in just 18.4 MPG, he’s become a stabilizing force off the pine. Harris has reverted back to his driving game and is subsequently getting to the free throw line 6.6 times/36 minutes–an aspect of his game that was noticeably missing in Utah.

He’s not shooting the 3-pointer as well as he did with the Jazz, but Foye has increased his productivity. In slightly less playing time this season, he’s averaging more points (11.3), rebounds (2.6, up from a lowly 1.5 RPG mark) and assists (2.8). With Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson suffering injuries and Andre Miller on the outs, Foye is being relied upon more to help facilitate the offense.

Things have never been the same for Brewer since the Jazz traded him. He had some excellent years for Utah, including a career-best 13.7 PPG in 2008-09. With a bevy of swingmen available, Ronnie B is at the end of the bench. He is averaging 0.3 PPG and shooting just 20% from the field. He still shows defensive prowess, but simply does not have a role with the Rockets. He too is only 28, but it is appearing more and more likely that he may not regain the production level he displayed in Utah.

This was one of my favorite off-season moves, mostly because it provided a capable starter to play behind a great center in Marc Gasol. With the latter’s injuries, Koufos was thrust into starting again and his advanced stats dropped a bit. Things have picked back up now that Gasol is back. Still, he’s shooting about 10% less from the field than last season. Koufos is still doing great things–7.0 PPG and 6.1 RPG (18.7 TRB%) and will help Memphis in their quest to earn one of the playoff spots.

He will never stop playing. Yes, he’s announced that he’s bidding adieu after this season, but we’ll see. At 39 years old and in his 18th season, his contributions are marginal. He is averaging just 4.7 PPG and 1.3 APG, but still gets consistent burn. While his shots inside the arc are often errant, those from downtown are still going down at a 37.2% clip. Fisher still takes a lot of charges.

One of the genuine good guys in the NBA, Price’s main contribution to the rebuilding Magic is to be a veteran influence and consummate professional. His stats are scary: 1.9 PPG (32.6% FGs, 28.6% 3s, 60% FTs) and 1.3 APG. Given the way he is respected by all the teams he’s played for, it would not surprise to see Price continue to find work in similar roles for a few more seasons.

This may be one of the guys that Jazz fans will never stop missing; this year has not changed that. Matthews is having the best season of his career and was a fringe All-Star candidate. His play has been integral to the Blazers’ surprising first half. He is averaging career-highs in points (16.7), rebounds (4.1), 3-pointers made (2.6) and 3P% (41.9%). His TS% has skyrocketed to .621 (up from .574) and his WS is 5.6 (4.7 OWS). His past two seasons were somewhat inconsistent, but his play this season has been a big catalyst for Portland’s success.

Williams has embraced the sixth man role in Portland and is thriving. He is providing energy and strong play behind and occasionally alongside Damian Lillard. He shooting is still shaky (39.5%), but he’s adding 9.1 PPG and 4.6 APG as a reserve. Given that the Trailblazers bench was awful the year before, his addition has been very welcomed. It’d be interesting to learn if Williams would have accepted such a role in Utah behind Trey Burke.

It has been a rough go for Maynor in the nation’s capital. He has scarcely played behind John Wall (who is averaging 37 MPG) and when he’s played, he’s struggled mightily. He’s shooting a horrendous 29.2% from the field and is chipping in just 2.3 PPG and 1.7 APG in 9.3 MPG. He showed promise early on in his career, but has plateaued–or perhaps even regressed.

Author information

David J Smith

Besides writing for Salt City Hoops, David contributes to the Utah Jazz coverage for the Deseret News and has written for the Utah Jazz website and Hoopsworld.com (now Basketball Insiders). He graduated from BYU and works for LDS Philanthropies. He and his incredibly patient wife, Elizabeth, have some amazing children--four girls and two boys. Voted "Most Likely to Replace Jerry Sloan" in high school.

In today’s basketball analytics paradigm, all of the talk is on efficiency, and for good reason: efficiency is highly correlated with winning. Per possession statistics like Offensive and Defensive Rating, and Synergy’s PPP rule the roost, and when they don’t, per shot statistics like eFG% or TS% step forward. Again, this makes sense: being efficient on both ends of the floor is obviously a good thing.

But when a player dramatically alters the possessions themselves, sometimes we analysts overlook that influence. Enter DeMarre Carroll. Last season, he shot an average-looking 46% from the field (though that was by far the best percentage of his career), and just 28.6% from 3: about average to below average overall for his position. Most look at these numbers and pigeonhole Carroll right there: wing players who can’t shoot tend not to be productive players.

DeMarre, though, is incredibly productive, by uniquely influencing the possession. Let’s look at how he does this:

GIVING PROHIBITED

DeMarre Carroll led the Jazz last season in turnovers per 36 minutes, allowing just 1.1 in that timeframe. To give you a comparison, Gordon Hayward finished with 2.1 TO/36, Alec Burks with 2.3 TO/36, and catch-and-shooters Randy Foye and Marvin Williams ended up with 1.3 and 1.5 TO/36, respectively. Yes, he even beat out notoriously turnover-stingy Al Jefferson, who ended with 1.5 TO/36.

Carroll’s total leaves him 15th in the NBA overall amongst players with over 1000 minutes, with most of the players above him of the extreme catch-and-shoot variety (such as Steve Novak, Shane Battier, Kyle Korver, etc.). Given that estimates for the value of a turnover range from -.9 points to -1.5 points, Carroll may be giving up a point fewer per game than his counterparts in this category alone. But we’re just getting started.

EYE-POPPING OFFENSIVE REBOUND NUMBERS

I wish there were a way to make a player famous for a certain facet of their game, but alas, that generally happens through the vagaries of public opinion. DeMarre Carroll’s offensive rebounding at his position is absolutely world-class. Let’s begin with his per 36 numbers again: Carroll averages 2.8 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes, compared to just 0.9 for Gordon Hayward, 1.2 for Alec Burks, 1.1 for Marvin Williams, and 0.3 for Randy Foye. Pretty impressive, no?

But when you compare him to the league overall, Carroll really shines. DeMarre ranks first in the league (again, minimum 1000 minutes) amongst non-PF and non-Cs in offensive rebounds overall: his 2.8 ORB/36 total beating the nearest challenger, Dante Cunningham, by over 10%. Carroll is the only player amongst all PGs, SGs, and SFs to rank in the top 50. He garners 9.1% of the possible offensive rebounds when he’s in the game, another league-leading performance for his position.

This isn’t just a single season fluke either. He led the league for non-big offensive rebounding in 2011-2012. In his second season, he played only 50 minutes. Even in his rookie season, 2009-2010, he led the league! We have very significant evidence that DeMarre Carroll is very significantly great at offensive rebounding.

The linear weights estimates (link above) for an offensive rebound seem to put the value at about 0.75 points, but I would argue that the value is even greater for Carroll: via Synergy, he averaged 1.31 PPP on his offensive rebounding scoring opportunities last season, good for 11th in the league. That improves significantly on the Jazz’s overall 1.09 points per possession on offensive rebound opportunities. This may just be wish casting, but lets put the value of an Carroll offensive rebound at 0.9 points. Doing the multiplication, he’s getting 1.5 to 2.3 more points per 36 minutes than his wing counterparts based on his offensive rebounding alone.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S “STEAL” MORE

Carroll also leads the Jazz with 1.9 steals per 36 minutes. This is again higher than his playing time competition: Hayward has 1.0 STL/36, Burks 1.1 STL/36, Foye 1.1 STL/36, and Marvin Williams finished with 0.8 STL/36.

Here, too, DeMarre Carroll compares extremely well with the rest of the league. Carroll ranks second in the league in steals per 36 minutes for a SF, and third in the league for non-guards, only Corey Brewer and Andray Blatche (strangely) finished higher. Again, the Jazz have someone who is world-class at his position at an aspect of the game.

Much like with turnovers, linear weights estimates the value of a steal at about 0.9-1.5 points. Once again, Carroll gains a point on his competition.

So how does it all add up? In these three respects of the game, Carroll is helping the Jazz by somewhere between 2.7 and 4.8 points per 36 minutes. That is a massive improvement: that jump would put the Jazz somewhere between 5th and 10th in the league in scoring margin, up from 15th. In short, the Jazz would have almost certainly made the playoffs, and may have even had home court advantage in the first round.

The brilliant part about Carroll’s season last year, however, was that he was still an effective player even ignoring his war-on-possessions specialties. Carroll’s FG% (46%) was a full 5 percentage points higher than any other season in his career, and his 0.98 PPP on personal offensive possessions was 95th in the league out of 400-500 players. The Jazz offense improved when he was on the floor, even in shooting percentage (albeit by less than 1 percent).

His defense, which I heavily attacked last year, became average this season: metrics on his performance range from somewhat below average (his 0.93 PPP allowed in Synergy) to very good (a 4 point DRTG jump when he was on the floor, via NBA.com, and his 12.6 PER allowed on 82games.com). Carroll is no longer limited to a specialist’s role.

The end result: a player who has largely eliminated his weaknesses, and improved his league-leading strengths. DeMarre Carroll’s unconventionality shouldn’t stop us from appreciating just how effective he was when on the floor last season, and a free agency offer representative of his talents should be extended.

Author information

Andy Larsen

Andy Larsen is the Managing Editor of Salt City Hoops, the ESPN TrueHoop affiliate for the Utah Jazz. He also hosts a radio show and podcast every week on ESPN700 AM in Salt Lake City.

As we move into the top 10 of JazzRank, we start to see the biases of bloggers show forth. If bloggers are simultaneously fans and writers who make no effort to distinguish between those two roles, then we have a right to eschew objectivity and praise the good name of DeMarre Carroll to our hearts content. After all, if there’s one skill you can see every time you turn on a basketball game, it’s drive, and Carroll has that in spades. As the man himself says, hard work is a talent, and at least in that department, there may not be a more talented player on the Jazz roster.

Offseason Accomplishments: Jazz chose to retain him; shattered the records for most tweets from an NBA player with the hashtags #staypositive and #blessed (an impressive feat); started his own T-shirt line (even using the #blessed hashtag on some of those T-shirts); lost the title for most entertaining Jazz-related twitter feed to Enes Kanter, but still maintains a vice grip on the number two position;

Patronus: Junkyard Dog. He chose this one. Not us. I know this probably isn’t what DeMarre had in mind, but I couldn’t help myself.

Stat to Watch: True Shooting Percentage. Frankly, DeMarre Carroll’s straight field goal percentage was mediocre at best last season, but even when accounting for threes and free throws as True Shooting Percentage does, it was still wallowing in the Josh Howard dungeon. Shockingly, that’s actually unfair to Josh Howard. In order to deserve an increase in minutes, Carroll cannot be such an offensive liability. To play the three, Carroll will have to either get to the line more, hone his jump-shooting, or preferably do both. I love DeMarre Carroll if for no other reason than he always cares more than every other player on the floor, but Rudy only played one throwaway series at the end of a blow-out, and unless Carroll wants to get the same kind of playing time for the Jazz that Rudy got for the Irish, he will need more than pure effort. He will need an improved offensive skill set.

Three Outcomes for the Season

1. Carroll improves his perimeter defense and his shooting enough to warrant legitimate playing time at the three and at the four in small line-ups. The best part about this scenario is that it might warrant some re-examination and editing on his typo-ridden ESPN profile that can be found here.

2. Carroll plays himself out of the NBA. This is a real possibility, considering how little interest he garnered at the beginning of the lockout-shortened season. He has played hard and well in limited minutes with the Jazz, and there’s no reason he couldn’t do the same on another team, but players like Carroll get aced out of positions on NBA rosters all the time. Just ask Jordan Farmar. And sadly, Blake Ahearn.

3. Carroll continues to play well enough to warrant a roster spot but remains an end-of-the-bench, wave-the-towel player. This would not be so bad. As a Jazz fan, I feel better just knowing that a player who works as hard as Carroll is in every practice. In fact, I think more teams should consider signing on guys like DeMarre, just to amp up the intensity of the practices and make sure the starts don’t get complacent. Can somebody please find a roster spot for Blake Ahearn?

SALT LAKE CITY (February 8, 2012) – Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has agreed to terms with free-agent forward DeMarre Carroll (pronounced Deh-MAR-ay). Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released. Carroll originally began the 2011-12 NBA season with the Denver Nuggets. He is expected to join the Jazz prior to practice Thursday morning.

A 6-8, 212-pound forward out of Missouri, Carroll appeared in four games earlier this season with Denver, averaging 3.0 points in 5.3 minutes before being waived on February 4. Carroll split the 2010-11 campaign between the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets. He also appeared in six games (all starts) last season with the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League, averaging 18.3 points and 6.8 rebounds. Originally selected by Memphis in the first round (27th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft, Carroll spent portions of two seasons with the Grizzlies before being traded to the Rockets on February 24, 2011.

The 25-year-old Birmingham, Ala., native finished his collegiate career at Missouri after spending two years at Vanderbilt. As a senior in 2008-09, he led Missouri to its first Big 12 Tournament title in 16 seasons and a trip to the 2009 NCAA Elite Eight, earning Big 12 Tournament MVP and NCAA All-West Region honors. The forward averaged 16.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his final season with the Tigers. Carroll is the nephew of Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson.